Pianeta-Botha presser

Photos: Eroll Popova

Unbeaten German heavyweight hope Francesco Pianeta (26-0-1, 14 KOs) will meet “The White Buffalo” Francois Botha (48-7-3, 29 Kos) on September 7 at the RWE-Halle in Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany. This bout was originally scheduled to take place in May, but Botha was injured shortly before the fight and Pianeta instead fought former heavyweight champion Oliver McCall.

In June, Pianeta spent some time in the Kitzbühel, Austria, training camp of Wladimir Klitschko. “After a week’s sparring with Wladimir Klitschko I know that I can compete at the top,” stated the WBO #13 Pianeta.

Francesco Pianeta: “Francois Botha is the next step on my way to the top. Now I can beat one ex-world champion after the other!”

Francois Botha via Skype: “I will once again come to Germany to continue my career. I must and will clearly defeat Francesco Pianeta! I have so many fans in Germany. I owe it to them.”

Also on the card is female middleweight champion Christina Hammer (12-0, 7 Kos) who will face Yahaira Hernandez (11-3, 5 KOs) from the Dominican Republic.

Christina Hammer: “I am really looking forward to the fight. Mülheim – this is home for many of my fans in the region. I want to finally show my fans here that I am the absolute number one in women’s boxing.”

For both Hammer and Pianeta, the card is practically at their doorstep. In addition, another local favorite in Markus Tomala (7-2, 3 KOs) will see action. This is the first SES-promoted card in the region. SPORT.1 will televise in Germany.